Hotbed



P 1952 H. R. RAWSON 2,608,797

HOTBED Filed May 19, 1948 v 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Inventor Harold R. Ra wsonPatented Sept. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Harold R. Rawson,Downers Grove, Ill. Application May 19, 1948, Serial N o..27,912

3 Claims. 1 This invention relates generally to hotbeds and moreparticularly to a hotbed including a frame with a sash extending overthe top of the frame and pivoted to the frame adjacent the midpoints ofthe top edges of theside walls of the frame by novel means so that theweight of the} sash is substantially balanced for easy opening andwhereby balanced openings are provided to insure against drafts in thehotbed due to wind,'the device being provided with means for automaticopening and closing of the sash according to changes in temperaturewithin the hotbed.

'A primary object of this invention is to provide a sash mounting for ahotbed of extremely simple construction, allowing the easy opening ofthe hotbed manually, as well as automatically by means of heatresponsive actuating means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hotbed construction inwhich the rear wall is higher than the front wall and the sash of theframe is pivoted so that balanced openings are provided to insureagainst drafts caused by wind blowing from'either the front or the rearof the hotbed, while still providing for ample ventilation thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a construction inwhich a sash in a hotbed frame is releasably secured at the sides of theframe so as to be easily removed as well as tilted.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a hotbed constructionin which the front and rear walls are inclined in the same direction tothe vertical, this feature, in connection with the above mentionedbalanced opening feature, operating tofu-rther insure against thecreation of drafts within the hotbed due to wind.

And a last object to be mentioned specifically is to provide a hotbedconstruction which is'relatively inexpensive and practicable tomanufacture, which is safe, simple and convenient to use, and which willgive generally efiicient and durable service. a 7

With these objects definitely inview,-this invention resides in' certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of elementsand portions as will be hereinafter described in the specification,particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which form a material part of this application,and in which:

Figure l is a three dimensional view of the assembled hotbed;'

Figure 2 is a grouped three dimensional view of the structureillustrated in Figure l, the sash being shown fragmentarily as removedfrom the hotbed, and the parts hereinafter referred to as the elongatedhinged members being removed;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view, taken-substantiallyupon the line 33 in Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows,the sash being shown in tilted position, a second position of a lowerportion of one of the above mentioned elongated hinged members beingshown in a second position in dash lines;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, taken substantiallyupon the line 44 in Figure 1; and,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse sectional view designed toshow the construction whereby the sash is releasably connected to thesaid lower portions of the elongated hinged members. Similar charactersof reference designate similar or identical elements and portionsthroughout the specification and throughout the sever-a1 viewsof thedrawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the hotbed includes a pair ofside walls 10 which are vertical and which are of tapered form andrigidly secured to a front wall I 2 and a rear Wall l4. The rear wall 14is of a greater height than the front wall l2 and both walls may beinclined in the direction which will be considered forward or toward.the front of the hotbed.

A sash, generally indicated by the numeral I6, is comprised of siderails l8, an upper rear rail 20 and a lower front rail 22, together witha complement of panes 24 of glass or the like. The side rails l8 restupon a pair of plates 26 which are rigidly secured to the side walls Illof the frame and extend from the front wall l2 to a point slightlybeyond the mid-point of each side of the frame. The upper rearwardlydisposed edge 26' of these plates supports the sash when thesame istilted, as indicated in Figure 3.- r

Another pair ofsomewhat similar membersi2 extend the full length of theside walls l0 andare secured thereto on the upper edges thereof andparallel to the plates 26, to which plates these members 28 mayberigidly secured.

A pair of elongated hinged'members, each comprised of "a lower portion30, an upper portion 32 and a hinge 34, are secured by means of theirupper portion 32 to the members 28, so that the lower portion 30 may bepivoted on the hinges 34, as is clearly indicated in Figure 3. A pair ofspring clips of the sash l6 and these clips have portions whichreleasably engage in slots 38 on'the inner edges of the said lowerportion 30, to hold the sash in 36 are mounted on the side rails I8 3operative position relative to the frame, while allowing the sash to betilted as indicated. The sash may be further supported, and its swingingmotion limited by way of a longitudinally disposed check strip 48rigidly secured to the frame at the upper rear edge thereof.

A heat responsive actuating means 42, of any suitable character, isrigidly secured, as indicated at M, to the plates 26, or to one of theplates 26, and this means 42 must have a reciprocating plunger id-orequivalent means adapted to reciprocate substantially verticallyaccording to temperature changes and to engage a side rail iiiof thesash.

The operation of this invention will be clearly understood from aconsideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical detailsthereon taken in connection with the drawings and with the aboverecitation of the objects sought to be. achieved by this invention. Itwill be clear how the inclined rear wall Hi accentuates the effect ofthe balanced'openings at'48 and 50 at the rear and'front. of the frame,as indicated in Figure 3, especiallywhen awind is blowing as from theleft hand'side inFigure 3, while still. allowing for proper convectiveventilating currents of. air within the hotbed. Obviously, theweight ofthe sash on the lower. side thereof; will be, slightly greater than theweight: of the sash above the points 26 of pivotal connection on theplatesZG. The hinges 34 willbe' disposed substantially vertically abovethe said points 26. It will be clear how the above describedconstruction allows, the sash to be tilted, as well as ailowingthe sashto beremoved from the lower'sections 3ilby merely forcing these sectionsupwardly away'fromthe sash, as indicated in Figure 3, whereafter' thesash may be removed from the hotbed frame whenever desired. In'thisconnection, it should be-noted that there is no positive orfixed'comnection between the sash and any portion of the frame, that is, thereare no bolts or clamps necessary to be. used in order'tohold'the: sashin proper relation with the other" portionsof. the frame, while theautomatic actuating means 42 is also freely disengageable'from'the sashand need not be manipulated or disconnected when the sash is to beremoved.

Obviously, many minor variations may, be made in the details ofconstructionand proportionment of the various elements of this inventionwithout departure from the spirit and scope thereof. Accordingly, thescope of this invention should be limited onlyas determined by a properinterpretation of the subjoined claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: v

1. A hotbed frame including upright side walls, a front wall, arear wallof a height greater than the height of said front' wall and inclinedupwardly and forwardlytoward said front wall,

asash closing the top of said frame, said side walls carrying inclinedplates supporting the forward portion of said sash, the upper edges ofsaid plates terminating at'the midpoints-ofthe top edges of said sidewalls and constituting the pivotal supports for the midsection of saidsash when the forward portion of said sash is upwardly tilted into openposition, a pair of elongated members having an upper portion fixed inrelation to the frame and a lower portion hingedly secured to the upperportion and releasably secured to the sash for pivotal movementtherewith, whereby the weight of the sash is substantially balanced foreasy opening and whereby balanced forward'and rear openingsare providedwhen the sash is tiltedin open position to insure against drafts in thehotbed due to wind, while improving ventilation.

2. A hotbed frame including upright side walls.

a front wall, a rear Wall of a height greater than the height of saidfront wall and inclined upwardlyand forwardly toward said front wall,inclined plates secured tothe interior surfaces of; said side walls andextending from said front wall and having upper ends terminating inspaced relation from said rear wall, said upper edgesproviding-sash-fulcrums and terminatingat midpoints of the top edges ofthe respective side walls, a pair of-swinging spaced parallel sashtilting members, means hingedly mounting said members on saidside Wallswith the hinge points lined up with the sash fulcruming edges'of saidplates, a sash closing the top of said frame; the midsection-portionsofsaid sash being rockable on said fulcruming points; and meansreleasably connecting said sash with said sash-tilting members forcoincidental swinging with said members whereby the weight of thesashissubstantially balanced for easy opening andwherebyibalanced forwardand rear. openings. are provided when the sash: is tilted in-openposition to insure against drafts-in thehotbed while improvingventilation.

3; The structure specified in claim 2 and a longitudinally disposedcheck strip rigidlysecuredto the frame at the upper rear portionthereof, said strip overhanging an adjacent longitudinaledge'portion of.said sash whereby the sash when closed engages said check' strip.

HAROLD R. RAWSON.

REFERENCES CITED The-followingreferences are of record in the file ofthis'patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Nov. 2, 1 9,33

